How to Search for the Men-De Greek Discourse Feature

In a previous blog post I showed how to use the reverse interlinear to identify the μέν – δέ construction in the New Testament. Please review that post to fully understand the significance of this discourse feature that Faithlife scholar-in-residence Dr. Steve Runge refers to as Point-Counterpoint.

In today’s post I’ll show how to execute a simple search in an English Bible to locate most occurrences of this construction.

• Open an English Bible with the interlinear option such as the ESV, NKJV, or NASB
• Navigate to Luke 10:2 (A)
• Click the Inline interlinear icon on the Bible’s toolbar (B)
• Check at least these boxes:
  • Inline (C)
  • Surface (D)
  • Lemma (E)
  • Lemma (Transliterated) (F)

• Notice to the left of the English word harvest a bullet with the Greek word μέν (men) under it (The bullet indicates an ellipsis or a Hebrew/Greek word that isn’t translated in the English Bible) (G)
• Notice under the English word but the Greek word δέ (de) (H)

So here’s another example of the μέν – δέ construction or a Point-Counterpoint Set. A very awkward paraphrase might be:

On the one hand, the harvest is plentiful, but on the other hand and what I’m really trying to emphasize is, the laborers are few.

The men sets up the de which is the emphasized point in the clause!

So let’s now execute a search which will locate other examples:

• Right click on the bullet for μέν (men) (I)
• Select from the right side of the Context menu the Greek lemma (the Greek word with the ring icon) (J)
• Select from the left side of the Context menu Search this resource (K)

• Notice the Search panel opens and in that panel make sure the search type is set to Bible (L), the verse range is set to All Passages (M), and the results view is set to Aligned (N)
• Type the word BEFORE after the query in the search box (O)

• Right click on the word but in Luke 10:2 (P)
• Select from the right side of the Context menu the Greek lemma (the Greek word with the ring icon) (Q)
• Select from the left side of the Context menu Search this resource (R)

• Right click on the highlighted search query in the second Search panel that just opened (S)
• Select Copy (T)

• Right click after the word BEFORE in the first Search panel (U)
• Select Paste (V) which places the second Greek lemma in the search box (W)

• Press the Enter key to generate the search results (X)

I know the first time through this seems like a slot of steps, but we’re basically executing a proximity search for the Greek lemma μέν (men)  when it occurs before the Greek lemma δέ (de) in the same verse. I had you copy/paste so you wouldn’t have to type the actual Greek words.

Notice as you look at the results how many bullets appear which usually represent the times μέν (men) does not get translated in the English Bible!

Please keep in mind a couple of things:

The above search locates these Greek words in the same verse. As Dr. Runge points out in his resources, sometimes  the Point-Counterpoint Set occurs over the span of several verses. Changing the search type to Basic will locate μέν (men)  BEFORE δέ (de) in the same chapter which will locate a few more occurrences.

Also, the above search is a way to locate these two Greek words if you don’t own the Lexham Discourse Bible  or if you’re not a Faithlife Connect Essentials (or above) member, either of which I highly recommend. With either of these options you’ll receive the Discourse Features Visual Filter for both Hebrew and Greek in which Dr. Runge annotates the text so you can clearly see and easily search for Point-Counterpoint Sets along with many other discourse features.

If you’d like more information about the reverse interlinear and explanations of the Discourse Features Visual Filter, be sure to order your copy of the Logos Training Manuals Volumes 1-3 in print or digital or attend a Camp Logos training seminar.

And for 24/7 Logos training, check out the new MPSeminarsOnline.com website.

Remember to follow Faithlife.com/mpseminars and you’ll automatically receive a FREE digital download of Dr. Grant Osborne’s commentary Ephesians Verse by Verse.